Football
PA Sport 8y

David Meyler: Focus on football key to Hull City's excellent start

David Meyler insists dealing with the summer turmoil at Hull has not been a problem for the Tigers' threadbare playing squad.

Hull lost Steve Bruce when the manager resigned three weeks before the start of the season, with the manager frustrated by the owners' failure to strengthen a squad reduced to 13 senior players by injuries.

But Hull won 2-0 at Swansea on Saturday as substitute Shaun Maloney and Abel Hernandez struck in the final 11 minutes for a second straight Premier League win.

"It's not difficult to focus on the football," Meyler said. "We're professionals and our job is to go out and represent Hull City. Our job is to win football matches -- I think the squad understand that.

"Everyone who has been involved in the games has set a high standard and we just need to keep on doing that."

Considered as relegation certainties before a ball was kicked, Hull are now in the distinguished company of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea as being the only sides with a 100 per centrecord after two games.

Hull caretaker-manager Mike Phelan remains hopeful reinforcements will arrive before the transfer window closes whether they are signed off by the unpopular Allam family owners, or the Chinese consortium currently involved in takeover talks.

But Meyler, who reiterated his prematch wish that Phelan should be handed the job on a full-time basis, says there is huge belief in the squad after victories over champions Leicester and Swansea.

"Everyone knows that Mike is only a caretaker manager, but he's galvanised the squad," Meyler added. "He knows the players as he was Steve's assistant and that has helped us.

"This was a big three points as we wanted to build on the Leicester game. You've got take confidence from beating the league champions and it showed.

"You need 11 players to play well to have a chance in the Premier League - but we had 12 because Shaun's come on and got a goal and an assist."

^ Back to Top ^